Netgear VMB3000 + 2 camera

[sjjohn]

I just go this as a gift. I understand its old because the person did tell me its used and that he doesn't use it any more.

But why this is so difficult to connect?

My base - NETGEAR VMB3000 and I have 2 camera. Though it says NETGEAR per Google searches its now arlo? 

The new app can detect the base by using the reset button on the base. But I just cannot connect the camera to the base. 

I tried the sync button on the base and then on the camera. It flickers rapidly in blue on the camera then no light. Some times the green on the camera led on base flickers green some times amber. 

The new app just does not do anything but keeps going on a loop when I try to add the camera. The loop - add base, firmware update error, try again later, Finish - no camera is added. 

Can someone please help? any similar experience?

[DannyBearAgain]

Check with the original owner that they had removed the camera and base from their arlo account.

[sjjohn]

Thank you!

Yes that is done. It was already removed from the account.

But Camera syncing to the base - isn't that a hardware thing?
But either ways, the account is cleared.  Its a nice looking camera, led works fine. I thought I could get it up and running

[jguerdat]

The easiest way to sync these cameras with the base is to briefly press the base sync button - don't hold it - and then a camera's sync button.

What are the LEDs on the base showing? Power and Internet must be green. When pressing the base sync button, the Camera LED should slowly blink green and the LED on the camera should slowly flash blue. Rapid blue flashing on the camera means the camera has synced and should flash on both the base (green) and camera (blue) the same way.

https://kb.arlo.com/000039100/What-do-the-LEDs-on-my-Arlo-SmartHub-or-Base-Station-mean

[sjjohn]

Thank you!
It flickers rapidly in blue on the camera then no light. Some times the green on the camera led on base flickers green some times amber.

Do I still use the new app or do i need to figure out how to install the old app. (old app is not available on app store anymore).

I can post a video of the setup if that will help

[jguerdat]

There's only one app, however it supports both the old user interface (UI) that uses Library to view recordings as well as the new UI that uses Feed.

Rapid blue flashes means the camera is connected. The Camera LED must be solid green except when syncing cameras when it will flash green until the camera connects or amber if the syncing fails. We need a complete blow-by-blow description of your process, what the various LEDs show at the various times as well as all that you've tried and what you see.

Yes, a video of that process would likely be helpful.

[sjjohn]

Thank you very much!

I have attached a screen recording video of me adding the base to the app. That worked. 
Then a video of me trying to sync the camera to the base showing the led colors and blue led on camera blinking rapidly. 

I connected the base to 2.4Ghz network, my phone is also on 2.4Ghz network.

Adding base - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uaGXYg58Qzs 
Syncing  camera - https://youtu.be/eAgxc24he20 

Thank you!!

[jguerdat]

I suspect your error message when adding the base and inability to check for firmware updates is the problem. FWIW, the base doesn't connect to your 2.4GHz WiFi since it uses the Ethernet cable. Your phone also doesn't matter because the cameras must use the base's WiFi.

When you reset the base, did you hold the button until the LEDs flashed amber?

[sjjohn]

Yes, I pressed it long enough for all the led to show amber light and then let go.
I had to do this for the app to detect the base.

I read somewhere that this model needs 2,4Ghz.  Is that true?

[jguerdat]

Your base has no need for WiFi. It creates its own 2.4GHz WiFi network that only the cameras can connect to.  You can see this in your WiFi list on your phone or computer - it would likely show a NETGEAR_xxxxxxxx or ARLO_xxxxxxx SSID that you can't connect to.

Again, I think the issue with the error message and inability to update firmware is the issue. Since you have the base connected to your account, can you go into the base settings and check for firmware updates successfully?

[sjjohn]

Thank you very much for replying!

oh ok, so I don't need to worry about my router having the ability to set 2,4Ghz. 

So from the video after you see me adding the base, I then don't see it in my app. 
One thing I noticed was - when I click on Feed - I see this: 
You found a premium feature

Visit Arlo on the web to manage your plans and devices.

[jguerdat · Accepted solution]

Since you can't see the base in your app, you can't do anything useful. Given all that we've tried, we can surmise that the base is faulty. You can buy a new SmartHub (the VMB4540 would be cheaper) and then connect the cameras.

The inability to see Feed without the error message means you don't have a subscription. If you connect the cameras to a new hub, you would get the free 7 day plan but only for those cameras. Any new cameras would require a subscription for cloud recordings.